ASUS GTX980Ti Strix SLI Review

Up Close

The packaging for the GTX980Ti Strix has the Owl that dominates the Strix branding front and centre. Those cold eyes are almost daring you to be dismissive of the 30% cooler claim below.

Once the card is freed from its cardboard confines you can see how much of a change in design the Direct CU III is when compared to the Direct CU II that has been a part of their range for so long. Triple fans surrounded by a redesigned shroud that seems to aim the air towards the exhaust. The reverse of the card has a backplate with exceptionally accurately cut holes and the Strix logo is particularly nicely printed.

Who doesn't like a pair of GTX980Ti's next to each other? It always looks eye catching and the Strix is no exception. There seems to be a concerted effort to reduce the depth of the card too, as even the heatpipe doesn't stick out as much as it has on either alternative Ti cards or previous ASUS models.

We love the recessed power inputs. Another nod towards keeping the card slim. Whether there are some new slender cases coming that will require the card to be as svelte as possible we don't know, but we like it very much. It's not as obviously an owl as the first Strix card, but it's not lost any of its charm for that.

The 12+1 phase power circuitry on this board mixed with the oversize PCB and epic cooler make this feel more like a Matrix card than what we are used to with a Strix card. If you take a look below even the mosfets and chokes come into direct contact with the main body of the cooler.

Personally I'd sand the red off the side strip so the light just comes through as white, Remove and paint the other 2 strips black and remove the top red cross and paint it black, To me that would look like sex ! Quote

Personally I'd sand the red off the side strip so the light just comes through as white, Remove and paint the other 2 strips black and remove the top red cross and paint it black, To me that would look like sex !

Good review Tom. I have a pair of MSI 980 Ti Gaming.Through their gaming app, i can control the led. Shame Asus doesn't do that with GPU Tweak.Also i have a Nvidia SLI bridge. With that i can control the bridge/Cards LED's through Nvidia Geforce Experience LED Visualizer.Quote

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